Invigilators and supervisors that are administering Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examinations are protesting allowances that the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) is giving them, describing them as a pittance.
The invigilators, who are under Secondary School Teachers Union (Sestu), say if Maneb leaders do not revise figures, the administration of the forthcoming Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations could be compromised.
MSCE examinations start from July 2 through to 26.
According to a letter addressed to Maneb, signed by Sestu interim president and general secretary Pilirani Kapolo and Druwen Moyo, respectively, the system that Maneb has introduced is making teachers feel hard done by.
In the letter, they claim that Maneb is paying residential allowances to only 10 percent of the teachers that are administering examinations, with the rest being put on commuting allowances despite that some of them are covering long distances to examination administration centres.
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Invigilators and supervisors are said to be pocketing allowances ranging from K40,000 to K30,000, depending on grade, for those in the residential category.
As for those who are commuting to examination administration centres, the package is, depending on grade, ranging from K16,000 to K13,000.
Moyo confirmed writing Maneb on the teachers’ complaint, saying they want the old system to be reintroduced.
Under the old system, all teachers were given residential allowances.
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“I can give the example that there are some schools, notably Njerengwa CDSS [Community Day Secondary School] in Chitipa. The closest school to it is Nkhangwa, some 20 kilometres (km) away. The other closest school is Kameme, covering the same distance [of 20km].
“Giving commuting allowances to invigilators in these schools is the same as exploitation. Give teachers allowances that tally with where they are working from, not according to Maneb’s new reforms,” Moyo said.
He said, in recent years, Maneb has been applauded for administering examinations well without leakages, but at the expense of teachers, who he said have been making sacrifices.
When contacted, Maneb spokesperson Angella Kashitigu refused to comment on the matter, describing it as internal.
The teachers have also asked Maneb to raise marking allowances by 50 percent and also improve living and dietary conditions during marketing exercises
